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Omicron still surging Canada hasn’t seen the worst of Omicron just yet, new federal data suggests. The country’s health officials projected on Friday that the Omicron wave could peak this January with new hospital admissions reaching an apex by the end of the month. During a press conference Friday, Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam said “several weeks of very intense activity” are expected. And while there is hope among medical experts that the fast-paced Omicron wave could speed up the pandemic’s timeline, Canada’s top doctors warn that’s “difficult to say” for sure. Tam is remaining cautious as some regions in Canada start to see Omicron outbreaks stabilize. "I think all of this does align together with the international data to say that we could be like others seeing a sharp, sharp increase and then it coming down fairly fast," Tam said. "But I think we're all just wanting to be a bit cautious about pronouncing on that until we've seen more information." Global News has everything you need to know about Omicron here. 
What is ‘flurona’ and should you be worried? You may have come across the term ‘flurona’ lately in reference to catching COVID-19 and the flu at the same time. It's not a new phenomenon — nor is it uncommon to be infected with the two viruses at once. But experts say with COVID-19 infections surging in Canada while the country is still in the midst of the annual flu season, cases of 'flurona' are inevitable. But it may be tricky to tell if you have the co-infection. Influenza and COVID-19 share similar symptoms, including cough, runny nose, sore throat, fever, headache and fatigue, according to the World Health Organization, So the signs of 'flurona' would not be any different, said Dr. Michael Curry, an emergency physician and clinical associate professor at the University of British Columbia. Global News reporter Saba Aziz has more on ‘flurona’ here. 
Q: I just got over a recent bout of COVID. Do I still need to get a booster shot, or should I wait until my immunity wanes? Yes, you should still get a booster even if you’ve just had COVID, according to Dr. Samir Sinha. The director of geriatrics at Sinai Health and University Health Network hospitals in Toronto recommends getting a booster – or even a fourth shot if eligible. “We don’t know how strong your level of natural immunity will be in response to a recent infection with COVID. And we don’t necessarily know how long it will last,” Sinha tells Global News. One thing we know for sure, says Sinha, is that even for people who have had COVID recently, vaccination still offers better protection. “So even if you did have COVID, we still recommend that after you have recovered, at least 10 days after … when you’re no longer having any symptoms … if you are eligible for a booster, you should get a booster shot.” Canada’s deputy chief public health officer of Canada Dr. Howard Njoo agrees it’s unclear how long natural immunity lasts after infection. "We know that for Omicron, we could have some immunity for some time. But (having had Omicron) doesn't protect against other variants and virus strains," Njoo said Friday in French. Sinha notes it’s especially important to get a booster if you’re older, as your immunity will likely wane more quickly. | 
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